Ye Joon Kim took on perhaps the toughest assignment in world boxing with just two weeks’ notice when he agreed to fight Naoya Inoue this Friday, live on Sky Sports.
‘The Monster’ Inoue is one of the best boxers in the world at any weight, indeed he has been the undisputed champion in two weight classes and holds the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF super-bantamweight world titles.
It was due to Australian boxing challenger Sam Goodman, who had to postpone the bout a month ago when he suffered a cut in sparring and then had to pull out altogether when the cut reopened in training.
Kim was preparing for an undercard bout at Ariake Arena on Friday and had been waiting as a possible replacement. But still – going in with Inoue is stepping up far beyond any level he’s boxed at before.
Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who represents Inoue, went so far as to compare the Japanese superstar’s talents to Manny Pacquiao, who Arum also promoted.
“Boxers are unique. Manny Pacquiao was a great, great champion, he was great for boxing. His career is legendary. Naoya Inoue’s career is even more legendary because unlike Manny, he went through one division after another without lost a fight,” Arum said. .
“You really can’t compare either of them because they’re both obviously great fighters, but they’re also different. Manny was reckless in a lot of fights and that’s why he got knocked out in the last fight he had with ( Juan Manuel) Marquez because he went on the attack and didn’t ask for an answer punch.
“But he was a great entertainer and he entertained the fans and he was loved not only in the Philippines but all over the United States.
“Now Inoue is a much more disciplined fighter. He’s much more correct in the ring. He doesn’t take dumb chances. Sometimes you do, but usually he doesn’t take dumb chances.
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Highlights of the undisputed super-bantamweight world championship fight between Naoya Inoue and TJ Doheny in September
“I think if it comes to the skill set, from a technical boxing standpoint, Inoue has a lot more than Manny Pacquiao. That’s not to denigrate Pacquiao, it’s just to say that in Inoue we have not only a wild knockout punch, but also a highly trained technical fighter.”
Inoue also has to adjust to a new opponent, but warned that he feels fully prepared for this next undisputed title fight, live Sky Sports+ from 7:30 a.m. on Friday.
“As I changed my schedule, I felt that extending so much to prepare my body was a big plus,” Inoue said.
“I think it would be better to make these kinds of adjustments before the big games in the future. So I think the two postponements and the one-month delay were helpful.”
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With Naoya Inoue scheduled to fight once again on Sky Sports, watch his devastating stoppage win over Marlon Tapales in December 2023
Of Kim, he added: “In terms of style, I have the impression that he is a striker.
I just want to believe in what I’ve learned from my 25-year boxing career and give it my all on match day.”
Kim, who grew up in an orphanage and has amassed a professional boxing record of 21-2-2 (13), hopes to complete a remarkable journey against Inoue.
“I’m in a good position,” he said matter-of-factly. “I have been preparing for a month, so there is no problem.”
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Naoya Inoue has devastating power in both hands and once he’s hurt, there’s no turning back!
Can Inoue be beaten?
said Top Rank President Todd DuBoef Sky Sports: “We had a huge upset with Jaime Munguia. Who would have thought that?
“I think it was a great display of surprise, getting caught. Inoue is a superior talent and we’ll see what he does.
“I think Inoue is a super special fighter with incredible IQ, power and speed in both hands. I think to get to him a fighter has to be very special and maybe a little bit lucky to get something out of him and he (Inoue) has to do something reckless, I think he’s very difficult to beat.”
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Top Rank President Todd DuBoef Praises Undisputed Super Bantamweight Champion Naoya Inoue
DuBoef added: “As he starts to go up, that’s where I think the potential struggles can happen. When he starts going to 126 pounds or even 130, they’re big guys compared to where he came from.
“Believe it or not, I think Junto Nakatani is on his feet and he looks great. I can see stylistically, the size of Nakatani, even though he’s a lighter weight, you look at his physical body and the way he punches in. it’s a tough fight for Inoue.
“It’s great to see that culture and that country really supporting boxing and growing it the way it has. A lot of that has to go back to Ryota Murata when he came out of the Olympics and Inoue at the time. We’re really seeing a real renaissance there.”
Watch Inoue vs Kim live on Sky Sports+ from 7.30am on Friday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
